Donīt understand. The show needs a OBGyn for Nicol, someone who will get along with her game till she "delivers". Itīs not a few days appearance and they need to be sure the actor will be available whenever needed so they gave him a longer deal. IMO itīs a normal production decision any producer has to make every day and itīs no way connected with the decision to let go BB or DH/DDH.

What Dena Higley has done is built a story which involves Nicole and her OB blackmailing each other. Higley was apparently not bothered by the fact that the OB was not on the show; she probably figured she'd simply cast a new one. As Ponz pointed out, Higley relies on new characters to play important roles in many of her stories. In my mind, this contrasts sharply with the approach taken by let's say JER, who built stories using the current cast as the principal characters. Who did Kristen get to keep quiet? Vivian and Ivan, who were already on the show. The story made a difference in the lives of their characters and served to change the lives of most of the characters on the canvas. Higley's little "events" do none of that, and in addition they are a budget drain on the show because of all the casting needed. This news about John Callahan is a perfect illustration of how in many ways, Higley is ruining the show.

Not true. Hogan and Higley did it more then others but every writer does this. It's not always a known character that plays principal roles in story and, with Nicole's story, it's hard to do that without her being exposed. Vivian and Ivan became allies because she could blackmail them.

What about Kayla? It could be written as the classic tension between professional ethics (patient/doctor confidentiality) vs. personal morality (the father's right to know). S&K's history with EJ might add another dimension to the story. It's not brilliant but is surely preferable to a cartoonish day player who sells babies. And since Nichols and Evans are likely well below their guarantees this cycle, it wouldn't put additional strain on the budget.

And open the door to people claiming it's character assassination for Kayla to do that? That wouldn't work, especially with the fans.

The best way is for it to be someone like Dr. Baker and, in all honesty, he's not going to last so it's not that big of an issue.